Loopholes for Berkeley and NYU?

Many of friends have gotten into good schools using "fake majors" and then transfering out once they've finished taking their general requirement classes. Assuming this idea works, what are underrepresented majors at CAL and NYU? I'm thinking of either philosophy, religion, or Transgender studies at Cal. Input would be greatly appreciated

Replies to: Loopholes for Berkeley and NYU?

Apply as what you want to study. If you're trying to get into something like engineering through the backdoor, you still won't be admitted later on. The same is true for business. What do you really want to study? It will be evident to the admissions committee (from your essays and ECs) that you're trying to get admitted under a "fake" major. If you want to do it, and you think it's okay, so be it, but you will probably have the same chances of getting in or not, unless a "special program" is in the mix, too.

DONT EVER DO THIS! One of my friends wanted to go to Berkeley for engineering, but couldn't because of grades and instead applied as a forresty major and got in. He tried to switch to engineering while at Berkleley, but they didn't let him. So he's stuck with a major that he's never really wanted to study.

sorry, but incorrect for Cal. All of the departments you mention are in the College of Letters & Science ("L&S") and they care not a bit what major you put down bcos its not an admission criteria to L&S -- one adcom I met said that they rarely look at the intended major. "Undecided" is just as good, since many kids change their major three times before graduating.

But, if you plan on applying to L&S with an intent to later transfer into another school, like Engineering, you need to understand that a later transfer is extremely difficult to accomplish since Engineering is already full with entering Frosh. Further, Engineering saves future vancant spots for juco transfers.

As Drab notes, if you are gonna identify a major, your transcript and essays, and/or EC/awards need to support that interest, or adcoms will see right through it.